Speaker Mike Johnson is facing increasing scrutiny as he prepares to adjourn the House for August recess, sidestepping further legislative conflict over Epstein document votes. The Louisiana Republican stated on Wednesday that “no one in Congress is blocking Epstein documents,” emphasizing that his party is focused on protecting legislative processes from perceived Democratic manipulation. Johnson defended the decision to halt the Rules Committee and cancel key legislative agenda items after internal GOP dissent over the Epstein-related agenda.
Johnson’s comments came as he reiterated his stance that Republicans are preventing Democrats from “making a mockery of the Rules Committee process” by refusing to engage in what he called a “political charade.” He insisted that the party needs to “let the process play out” and that the Trump administration is still actively working to unseal grand jury information related to Epstein. However, Johnson expressed skepticism about the viability of a bipartisan bill proposed by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to compel the release of the documents, calling the legislation “problematic.” He suggested that GOP leaders could potentially kill the bill if more information emerges during the recess.
At the same time, Johnson questioned the wisdom of the GOP’s plan to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, one of Epstein’s co-conspirators, to testify. While acknowledging that the subpoena is acceptable, he cast doubt on Maxwell’s credibility, citing previous Justice Department allegations that she is a “pervasive liar.” Johnson added, “can she be counted on to tell the truth…can we trust what she’s going to say?” This skepticism could complicate efforts to obtain testimony from Maxwell and potentially delay further legal actions against her, impacting the broader case against Epstein.
The ongoing legislative battle over the Epstein documents has created significant tension within the House, with both parties accusing each other of politicizing the issue. Johnson’s defense of his party’s strategy highlights the deepening polarization and the challenges of maintaining legislative productivity amid high-profile investigations. As the August recess approaches, the outcome of these developments could shape the trajectory of the Epstein case and influence the broader political landscape.